Approximately 1.6 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older each year. While the specific cause of type 1 diabetes is not know, making type 1 diabetes nearly impossible to prevent, you can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes through a healthy lifestyle. By changing your diet, increasing your level of physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight, you can stay healthier longer and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes
Noah is a 9 year old boy who has type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Only 5-10% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. With the help of insulin therapy, even young children with type 1 diabetes can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy, happy lives.
Noah started a campaign to help raise awareness of diabetes. He takes blue plastic flamingos (blue being the color of diabetes awareness) and “flocks” people by leaving the flamingos on their lawn with a special note asking them to “get out and do something” with his flamingo. Noah is trying to promote awareness of diabetes by asking as many people as possible to take part in this campaign. He asks that you do something fun and something active with the flamingo. He ask that the recipient take a picture of themselves with his flamingo and then send the picture and a little message of what they did during the visit, to Noah at Noah collects all the pictures and messages and puts them on his web site for everyone to see. He asks that they then pass the flamingo along to another friend or family so they can take part in this campaign too! Noah’s goal is to get at least one of his flamingos in every state in the United States. Noah wants to prove to everyone that people with diabetes, especially kids with diabetes, can do anything they put their mind to!
For more information on type 1 diabetes, the campaign, or to see pictures of other families participating in this campaign, please visit Noah’s web site, http://www.thediabetesdude.com/
